No abstract

Southeast Asian Studies is an important educational and scholarly research platform to understand the different aspects of the Southeast Asian region. Western scholars have contributed significant research produced under the programmes; local researchers have added their voice to the study of the region. However, Andaya (2017) suggested that the field of SEAS should be mindful of its relevance to the current generation, and its development and progress should be in-line with the changes in contemporary scholarly needs of Southeast Asia. She asserted that the world and Southeast Asia have been transformed. However, the research and teaching approach and the scope of the programme remains unchanged. A critical review and rethink of the field of study in the region is urgent. SEAS needs to be reshaped to be relevant and progressive to suit the current scenario. This paper will examine whether SEAS could move away from its conventional teaching and research approach, and undergo a rebranding exercise that will be compatible to meet the demands of the changing world. The paper will also allude to potential challenges in reshaping the form and content of SEAS in the region.

This paper examines the governance of forced migration in Southeast Asia. The region hosts about 2.5 million of forcibly displaced migrants from a worldwide total of 70 million (2018). The migrants include intra- ASEAN and non-ASEAN refugees or asylum seekers, notably from the Middle East.  Based on a review of recent literature, the paper investigates three main destination states in SEA that host the majority of the forced migrants; Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. The paper examines (i) local policies in the governance of forced migrants and (2) the practice of non-refoulement principle. The findings reveal that in terms of forced migration governance, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand are ‘same but different'; meaning that despite being similar, each country produces different outcomes.

This article provides an introductory and brief overview of the research, publications, and achievements of Southeast Asian Studies in Malaysia, in particular, the role of the Department of Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Malaya. It briefly revisits the pre-and post-colonial times, when the subject of Southeast Asian Studies appealed to academics, administrators, and foreign experts. Since 1975, the Department has not only played the role of training young researchers in different issues on Southeast Asia but also provided a platform to local and foreign researchers to publish their scholarly work in JATI-Journal of Southeast Asian Studies and Borneo Research Journals that are both produced by the department annually.

Despite the vast amount of research on ethnic integration, ethnocentrism, and social capital in the Malaysian literature, there is a growing need to scrutinise comparatively the findings of the studies which have been carried out so far. This paper examines the impact of ethnicity on interethnic relations by reviewing the relevant literature related to social capital and inter-ethnic relations in Malaysia. In order to investigate the different aspects of inter-ethnic relations of Malaysians, the empirical contributions reviewed in the present paper are from three academic disciplines: (i) media studies, (ii) urban studies; and (iii) sociology. Researchers in media studies have discussed the virtual dimension of inter-ethnic relations taking place in online social networking sites whereas urban studies have focused on the actual relationships between Malaysians in different urban settings. Sociological studies, on the other hand, have examined the socialisation processes of Malaysians across different ethnic groups and their racial bridging social capitals. The overall findings of these studies indicate that strong ethnic identities impede bridging social capital, trust among Malaysians and the social solidarity of Malaysians while reinforcing the bonding social capital and in-group solidarity within ethnic groups.